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INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION ON THE CITY OF STOCKTON’S “THRIVE DOWNTOWN” MASTER PLAN AND VISIONING PROJECT
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City of Stockton Planning Commission receive an informational presentation from City staff and consultant team regarding the status of the “Thrive Downtown” Master Plan and Visioning Project. No formal action is being requested.
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Summary
The City is preparing a Downtown Master Plan, titled Thrive Downtown, that is a long-range planning and implementation effort intended to guide economic development opportunities including infill housing, mobility improvements, public space and waterfront activation, and strategic investments in Downtown Stockton. The effort emphasizes infill development, improved connections to existing transit and destinations, reuse of historic buildings, and opportunities to make downtown a more active and welcoming place to live, work, and visit. Thrive Downtown will also explore the necessary environmental clearances as well as potential tax increment financing strategies to improve existing infrastructure to attract new development.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City initiated the Thrive Downtown Master Plan and Visioning effort utilizing funding through the Regional Early Action Planning 2.0 (REAP 2.0) grant program awarded by the San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG). REAP 2.0 aims to accelerate infill housing production, affirmatively further fair housing, and reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
The Master Plan incorporates prior planning activities that have taken place in the downtown area and is intended to identify an implementable framework rather than a single development project. The effort also advances the City’s broader General Plan and Housing Element objectives by exploring infill housing capacity, more efficient use of existing infrastructure, access to transit, and reduction of vehicle dependence. The City has retained Wallace, Roberts, & Todd, LLC (WRT) to assist with preparation of the plan, engagement, conceptual design, implementation analysis, and funding strategies.
The Study Area of the Thrive Downtown Master Plan is bounded by Airport Way on the east, Interstate 5 and San Jose Street on the West, Park Street on the north, and the BNSF line on the South. The Focus Area, which contains a more detailed analysis, includes the Downtown waterfront as well as various institutional, civic, and entertainment destinations (Attachment A).
Present Situation
The project has progressed from initial information gathering and engagement into refinement of a downtown vision and testing of preliminary concepts. In August 2026, City staff and WRT hosted an open house at the Hotel Stockton, gathering public feedback on the preliminary concepts. Based on the comments received, the Plan’s framework has been updated as shown in the Thrive Downtown presentation boards (Attachment B).
Highlights of the plan include:
1. Community Engagement
Community outreach included targeted stakeholder interviews, various tabling events, a community survey, and community open houses. The August open house hosted over 65 attendees with approximately 30 organizations represented. The draft development concepts received more than 240 comments. Community priorities included activation of the downtown and waterfront, improved walking, bicycling and transit connections, investment in public spaces, preservation of the historic character while accommodating new housing and businesses, and the formation of partnerships for implementation.
2. Planning Framework
The Community Character Framework segment identifies key districts within the study, including district locations and opportunities for “complete neighborhoods”, adaptive reuse of existing structures, and concentrated downtown activity. The Public Realm Framework considers improved waterfront access, neighborhood parks and plazas, and linked public spaces. The Mobility Framework considers people-oriented streets, complete streets, off-street pathways, and better connections among downtown destinations, neighborhoods, and transit stations.
3. Opportunity Sites
Historic City Hall
Three concepts explore adaptive reuse of the Historic City Hall complex and surrounding City-owned blocks, including the former Wells Fargo building, Lindsay Annex, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Plaza. One concept option combines academic use with lower-density housing. A second concept option explores a hotel and conference program with higher-density housing. A third concept option explores a boutique hotel and higher-density housing. Each concept illustrates approximately 10,850 square feet of active ground-floor space as well as enhancements to MLK Plaza. The concepts also explore partial right-of-way abandonments within the project area.
Arena Waterfront Site
For the approximately three-acre City-owned parcel between Banner Island Ballpark and the Adventist Health Arena, the developed concept emphasizes a waterfront recreation and outdoor activity hub, extension of the pedestrian promenade along the water’s edge, flexible gathering spaces, and improved relationships among the arena, downtown, and Weber Point. The Arena Waterfront Site also explores a connection to Weber Point and further to the South Shore through pedestrian bridge connections, enhancing overall accessibility and strengthening waterfront connectivity.
North Shore Area
The development concept for the City-owned and privately owned site west of Banner Island Ballpark and Stockton Ironworks combines mixed-use development, housing, culture, entertainment, recreation, and active ground-floor space. Development of this site would assume any displaced parking would be addressed through an overall parking strategy, including a new parking structure on a portion of the City-owned block north of the ballpark, along with mixed-use development.
Public Comment
Any input received at this informational presentation will be used by staff and the consultant to inform the development of the draft Thrive Downtown Master Plan.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Thrive Downtown Study Area & Focus Area
Attachment B - Thrive Downtown Presentation Boards